David,
An additional concern with shampoo basins is working with older clients and
the risk of stroke or other incidence caused by restricted blood flow due to
neck extension. For this reason, there is at least one company that makes a
height adjustable shampoo basin, which is marketed mostly to beauty salons
in larger nursing homes: http://www.bjindustries.com/Shampoo.htm.

The height adjustability allows for better worker posture, as well.

Rick Goggins, CPE
Ergonomist, Washington State Department of Labor and Industries
[log in to unmask]
(360) 902-5450
http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Topics/Ergonomics/default.asp

-----Original Message-----
From: Ergonomics and human factors [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of David McFarlane
Sent: Thursday, November 18, 2004 9:59 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: The Dimensions of Basins used in Salons for Hair-washing

Has anyone been looking at the design of basins in beauty salons lately?

Recently I was looking at a work posture problem that related to a basin
with an internal of about 40 centimetres. I was told that this was a
particularly deluxe expensive basin and that it was rather larger and deeper
than most. This causes a reach problem as the worker has to lean over the
tap end (though nobody could tell me why it could not be done from the
side).

The length of the head of a large woman (1778 mm tall) is only about 216 mm
from the chin to the top of the head according to Humanscale Chart 7a
(Diffrient et al, 1981) this suggests that a much smaller bowl ought to be
adequate for hair-dressing tasks.

What sort of dimensions do these basins usually have? How large do they need
to be?

Thanks to all of you who have answered my earlier queries privately - but
please don't be so modest - feel free to reply to the list!

Regards.

David.